New Delhi, Aug 1 : The BJP on Wednesday accused the Congress and the TMC of "murdering democracy" by devising a strategy to disrupt Rajya Sabha proceedings to prevent Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President Amit Shah from speaking on the NRC issue.
Accusing the two opposition parties of evading a debate over the National Register of Citizens issue in Assam, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) also asked the Congress to clarify its stand on the matter.
"Today Shahji and Rajnathji were not allowed to speak in the Rajya Sabha. This was a planned strategy by the opposition. The Congress and the TMC don't want to let the house run," BJP leader Prakash Javadekar told the media here.
"The Congress and the TMC have murdered democracy," he alleged, adding that in the Rajya Sabha, its Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu had asked Shah to complete his speech that remained incomplete due to disruptions in the house on Tuesday.
He said that about 20 members spoke on Tuesday. "But when the BJP and the government wanted to speak the Congress and the TMC created a ruckus and we condemn it," he said.
"Even Chairman Naidu said that he sees a conspiracy in the agitation by opposition members and their attempt to stall the proceedings," Javadekar said.
"What do the Congress and TMC fear? Why are they running away from discussion? Why dont they want to listen to replies? Whom do they want to save?"
Earlier, BJP President was scheduled to continue his incomplete speech in the Rajya Sabha but prevented due to ruckus created by the opposition members over the NRC.
Slamming West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Javadekar said: "We know what Banerjee wants. She is opposing the NRC; she is in favour of the infiltrators."
Earlier in the day, TMC member Sukhendu Shekhar Roy raised a point of order and said that as per the rules of conduct of the upper house, a member cannot speak twice on the same issue if he fails to complete his speech in the first instance.
But his point of order was rejected by the Chairman, who said he had given Shah permission to complete his speech and asked the BJP chief to continue.
As the TMC members continued with the protest and did not let Rajnath Singh speak, Naidu adjourned the house for the day.
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New Delhi, Jan 14: An Indian national recruited by the Russian military has been killed and another has sustained injuries in Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine, and New Delhi has taken up the matter strongly with Moscow.
The death of Binil TB, who hailed from Thrissur, was made public on Monday by one of his relatives.
Following the death of the Indian national from Kerala, India has reiterated to Russia its demand for an early discharge of the Indian nationals recruited by the Russian military, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
"We have learnt of the unfortunate death of an Indian national from Kerala, who had apparently been recruited to serve in the Russian Army," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday.
"Another Indian national from Kerala, who was similarly recruited, has been injured and is receiving treatment in a hospital in Moscow," he added.
Jaiswal said the Indian embassy in Moscow is in touch with the families of the two Indians and all possible assistance is being extended.
"We are working with the Russian authorities for an early transportation of the mortal remains to India," Jaiswal said.
"We have also sought the early discharge and repatriation to India of the injured person," he said.
"The matter has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities in Moscow as well as with the Russian embassy in New Delhi today," he added.
The MEA spokesperson said India has also reiterated its demand for an early discharge of the remaining Indian nationals in Russian military.
Our response to media queries regarding death of an Indian national in Russia:https://t.co/pkC6jXkRin pic.twitter.com/2q6PELLHPl
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2025